Pressing machine



NOV. 8, FQRSE PRESS ING MACHINE Filed Nov. 12, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. flflkkrfl 70 95.

ATTORNEYS.

Nov; 8, 1932. H. D. FORSE PRESSING MACHINE Filed Nov. 12 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Poms:

INVENTOR.

flaw/v2" ATTORNEYJ.

Patented Nov. 8, 1932 HARRY n. FORSE, or ANDERSON, INDIANA PBESSING MACHINE Application filed November-d2, 1928. Serial in. 319,774.

This invention relates to a pressing machine suitable for commercial cleaning and pressing establishments.

The chief object of this invention is to simplify and improve pressing machines of the general character hereinafter indicated.

One feature of the invention consists in the treadle construction incorporated with the pressing machine.

Another feature of the invention consists in the improved arrangements of the inte-, rior of the pressing element .andthe buck and head may be similarly constructed.

The third featureof the invention consists,

in the adjustment provided for securing predetermined pressure between the buck and head when the treadle is operated to position the head upon the buck.

Another feature of the invention consistsin the provision of a source of illumination and a. control mechanism therefor, and associating the same and the head or a. part movablev therewith so that the source of illumination is illuminated automatically when the head is in spaced relation with the buck. Another featuige of the invention consists in a peripheral enveloping perforated ornozzled conduit upon the buck or head, or both, which is adapted to cool and dry the garment. The full nature of the invention will be understood fromthe accompanying drawings and the following description and claims In the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pressing machine with the headin elevated position relative to the buck Fig. 2 is a similar View of the pedal and lower art of a modified form of the treadle mechanism shown. in Fig. 1 and in the position corresponding to the head engaging the buck. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the upper rear portion of the pressing machine with the head engaging the buck.. Fig. '4 is a top plan view of a pressing member such as the buck with the steam and vacuum chests exing removed. Fig. 5 is a central and longitudinal sectional view through the main frame of the pressing element with the chest and perforated cover nested therein. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view'taken on line posed, the perforated cover andpadding be 66 of Fig. 4 and of'a padded pressing element.

In the drawings "10 indicates a base supporting suitable legs or frame members 11 which are cross connected at their upper ends as at 12. Each side frame member 11 includes an upright extension 13 that terminates in a bearing 14 which pivotally supports shaft 115. Mounted thereon is a pair of lever arms 16, the free and outer ends of which terminate in the supporting member 17. Associated therewith is a handle construction 18, and carried by the plate is a pressing ,head frame 19. Supported by the vledges 20 of the side frames is a detachable base '21 which supports a pressing buck frame .22, the support being near the end thereof.

Suitably supported, and preferably by one of the leyer arms 16 so as to be movable therewith, is a source of illumination including a reflector 23 and a light bulb'-24. Current is supplied theretoby the conductors 25 which lead to a switchn26 in turn connected to a master switch27 supplied by the power line i 28. With this arrangement, if the master switch 27 is in closed circuit position, the automatic switch 26 associated with the hinge mounting of the head automatically comthe head is in the elevated positionas shown in Fig. 1.. When the head is in the buck engaging position as shown Fig. 3 the automatic switch opens the circuit to the lamp. When no illumination is desired between the buck and head, the master switch 27 is mainpletes the circuit throughthe lamp 24 when tained in the open circuit position, and when thusmaintained the automatic switch has no utility. .The desirability of the illumination thus automatically provided is obvious.

' In addition to the handle 18, a treadle construction is'provided for moving the head into engagement with the buck. The two extreme positions thereof are illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The base 10 supports a pairv of brackets 30 mounting a crank shaft 31 which supports a pair of substantially segmental spacing members 32. A flexible sprocket chain 33 (see Fig. 1) or an equivalent strap 133 (see Fig. 2) is secured at one end to each spacer and rides upon the peloo riphery thereof. The peripheral surface of the spacer 32 shown in Fig. 1 is a true are and is toothed as well.

1 of the base 10 by the socketed casing 37, and

the other end of the lever supports the similarly socketed pedal 36 forming the treadle construction. The aforesaid arrangement secures oscillation of the intermediate crank portion of shaft 31 when the treadle is operated.

To limit oscillatory movementthere is provided a stop 38 covered by rubber cushioning material 138 such as a suitable length of rub-- ber hose. bracket 30 when the crank portion of shaft '31 passes through its lowest point of oscillation. The resulting construction is there-' fore self-locking when it haspassed its lowest position. To facilitate release therefrom and initiate return movement past dead center, lever 39, pivotally supported at 40 and provided with tread plate 41 is provided and engages the transverse roller 153 on member 53.- Return movement after passing through the lowest point of oscillation is affected by a mechanism hereinafter set forth. The particular periphery of the segmental' member can be of such a nature that any.

desired type of movement of the head toward the buck can be obtained. For example at the start of the movement of the head toward the buck the actual buck travel might be small for each unit of treadle travel. Likewise after the buck is -in motion the intermediate travel thereof might be relatively rapid or large for 'each unit of treadle travel. Similarly the buck travel can be relatively small for each unit of treadle travel as the buck immediately approaches the head. j

A pair of bosses 42 extend inwardly towards each other from each of the lever arms 16 and terminate in spaced relation. Interposed between said arms is a worm wheel, .43 that is eccent-rically mounted upon the shaft 44 and meshes with the worm 45 carried by shaft 46 supporting the hand wheel 47. The shaft 46 is rotatably mountedin the ears 48 formed as extensions of the s des 49 forming a pocket 50 which partially closes the worm wheel 43. The sides 49 constitute an extension of a socket 51 that receives the upper end of connectin rod 52, the lowerend of which is receivable y the socketed cast- If the spacer were of isosceles triangular shape, the active length Said stop engages the adjacent.

ing 53rotatably supported by the intermediate and crank portion of the-shaft 31.

Extending laterally and oppositely from the crank shaft supported socketed end 53 of the conneetingrod is a pair of spring supports 54 to each of which is secured one end of'an elongated coil spring '55. Each up right extension 13 of the frame supports an inwardly directed slotted bracket 155 through.

struction. Through this arrangement p'redetermined pressure of the head 19 upon the buck 22 can be obtained. The springs 55 are progressively elongated as the head is moved toward the buck. The applied pressure,

however, increases as the upper leverage in- 1 creases, and when the head substantially engages the buck the connecting rod and the crank shaft'centers lie in substantial align ment with the rod or slightly oft center therefrom, 'lVhen released therefrom by treadle 41 the springs 55 assist in the return of the head to elevatedposition. Ofi center and'lowering head movement is limited by cushionedstop 38 138. Upward movement of the head is limited by the connecting rod end 51 engaging the pivot 15 cushioned by "rubber hose 115.

The particular interior construction of the pressing member, whether it be the buck or the head, or both, is illustrated in Figs. 4 1306 inclusive. In said-figures, 60 indicates the peripheral outline. or side wall ofthe pressing member, 61 the pressing member bottom wall and 62 the pressing surface. Formedthereby is a heating chamber 63 for heating the entire buck orhead. The press: in surface 62 is recessed by an ofi'set and le ge forming inwardly extending wall 64, and the wall 65 therewith closes said opening. This recess nestingly receives the elongated tapered multiple chambered chest construction, including the bottom wall 66 and the exterior side walls 67 which are complementary to the inwardly directed lcdgeforming walls 64. A plate 68 covers the open face of the chest and includes a plurality of minute perforations 69 which extend there.- through. The cover 68 is-sccured to .the chest as at 70 and the chest is secured to the supporting ledge as at 71.

The chest and cover are aluminum while the support or pressing member body may be cast 1ron. Aluminum is'preferred since-it is noneorrosive-and the apertures 69 therein will not become clogged and rust;

The chest includes three chambers with bifurcated channels are connected at one portions arranged in tongue and groove arrangement. One chamber includes a pair of elongated channels 72 in spaced relation with each other but slightly'tapered at one end and connected by a cross channel 7 3. Anintermediate and longitudinally extending channel 74 also communicates therewith. Ineluded between the tapered portions of the two parallel first mentioned channels is an elongated chamber having bifurcated channel forming extensions 75 interposed between the three parallel channels 72 and 74. Said end and to another longitudinal channel 77 by cross channel 76. These chambers extend from one end of the chest to substantially the opposite end of the chest.- The opposite end of the chest includes the cross channel 79 from the opposite ends of which extend two transverse and tapered channels 78. An inner pair of intermediate and parallel channels 80 communicate therewith through a central chamber 81 and channel 7 9. The two channels 72 at their remote ends are cross connected or communicate with eachother by the lateral passage 82 and this is adjacent the opening 100 so that rapid equalization of pressure obtains. Adjacent the remote end of each chanas a trap to collect steam condensate.

nel 72 isan abutment or baflle 101 WlllCllSBI iYES he same escapes to chamber 79 through the minute ducts 102 and discharges therefrom through opening 103 adjacent thereto. To

prevent pocketing of the condensate, duct 104 I connects channel 74 to channel 76, the condensate escaping through opening 105. i

In the buck the central chamber including the channels 75, 76 and 77 constitute a vacuum chamber and the end chamber including channels 78, 7 9, 80 and 81 also constitute a vacuum chamber, while the remaining chamber including'the elongated channels 72, 73, and 74 constitute a steam chamber. piping is connected to the respective open ings previously indicated for pressoperation. The vacuum also draws the steam condensa through the ducts 102 and 104.

In the head the two chambers first mentioned are preferably connected so as to form steam chambers while theother chamber con stitutes the vacuum chamber. The purpose of the change is to permit but a portion of the head to be supplied with steam and that being the portion in use when short garments are to v be pressed.

For control purposes thepressing head is provided with three valve actuating control levers each of which controls one of the chambers andth'ese control levers may be automatically actuated in the movement of the head by extensions of said levers engaging stationary cams carried. by the upright extensions 13.-

As shownin- Fig. 6 each pressing member is'covered by a plurality of vlayersof cushion Suitab material, such as steel Wool 91 and the like, a

and a canvas cover 93.

suitably' supported at the eriphery of each pressing element is a con uctor or pipe 94 provided with nozzles 95 that extend into the aforesaid padding construction. These nozzles constitute suction elements and the pipe or conduit 94 is adapted to be connected to a source of vacuum. When thus connected and the control valve therefore (not shown) is actuated, the garment can be readily dried and cooled. The invention claimed is: 5

In a pressing machine of the character described, the combination of an actuating rod, a crank shaft including a crank portion connected thereto, a segmental spacer rigid plurality of layers ofblanketing' material 92,

with the shaft, a lever, and a flexible connection between said spacer and said lever and having peripheral contact with the spacer whereby lever movement secures shaft movement.

2. In a pressing machine of the character described, the combination of an actuating rod,'a crank shaft including a crank portion rod, a crank shaft including a crank portion connected thereto, a segmental spacer rigid with the shaft, a lever, a flexible connection between said spacer and said lever and having peripheral contact with the spacerwhereby lever movement secures shaft movement, and an adjustable connection for said yieldingmeans for securing predetermined force therefrom.

4. In a pressing machine of the character described, the combination of an actuating rod, a crank shaft including a crank portion connected thereto, a segmental spacer rigid with theshaft, a lever, a flexible CORRECT/1011' between said spacer and said lever and having peripheral contact with the spacer whereby lever movement secures shaft .movement, the rod and crank connection being movable through the lowest position, and means limiting the movement beyond the lowest position.

5. In a pressingmachine, the combination of a pair of pressing elements having relative movement towards and away from each other, a support for one of said elements permitting such movement, an actuating rod connected to said support for moving the same, an adj ustable connection between said rod and support for securing predetermined positioning of said elements when positioned closest to ealch other, said connection comprising a, pivt on the support, a gear eccentncally mounted thereon and connected to the rod, and a' manually adjustable member meshing with the gear for adjusting the same rotatably with respect to therod.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto aflixed my signature. v

HARRY D. FORSE. 

